SHAKA HISLOP will be forced to become West Ham's jetsetter after a row between club and country.
The West Ham goalkeeper has been told he must play for Trinidad and Tobago in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in America, which runs from January 12 to February 27.
But Hislop, 30, is desperate not to miss any games for the Hammers as they chase a European place through the Premiership and Worthington Cup. West Ham had hoped he would stay behind but the keeper has now offered a compromise.
Hislop said: "It's an eight-hour flight and that sort of journey does take it out of you, so it's going to be very hard.
"But it is a compromise and I am hopeful that we will keep everyone happy.
"It is not ideal travelling back and forth as it is very tiring.
"I have done that sort of flight a couple of times this season and it's hard to lift yourself again when you come back.
"But Trinidad and Tobago have some important World Cup qualifiers starting in March and I don't want to lose my place for my country."
Hislop goes back to old club Newcastle on Monday, with West Ham missing key players.
Paulo Wanchope and Paolo Di Canio are both suspended, while Paul Kitson has a back injury.
But defender Igor Stimac is fit to return to take Neil Ruddock's place in central defence.
Ruddock has a fractured eye socket after suffering the injury at Wimbledon on Boxing Day and will see a specialist on Tuesday.
He said: "It could be 10 days or it could be six weeks. I've just got to keep my fingers crossed."